Isaiah 58:3

Wherefore have we Fasted and thou hast not seen? Humbled our soul, and thou wouldst take no note? Lo! in the day of your fast, ye take pleasure, But all your toilers, ye drive on!

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

In Context

2Yet, me—day by day, do they seek, And in the knowledge of my ways, they delight,—Like a nation that had done righteousness, And the justice of their God, had not forsaken They ask of me the just regulations, In approaching God, they delight.

4Lo! for strife and contention, ye fast, And to smite with the fist of lawlessness,—Ye shall not fast as to-day, To cause to be heard on high your voice!

Read all of Isaiah 58

Cross References

Exodus 2:23And it came to pass, during those many days, that the king of Egypt died, and the sons of Israel sighed by reason of the servitude and lamented,—and their cry for help went up to God, by reason of the servitude.

Leviticus 16:31A sabbath of sacred rest, it is unto you, Therefore shall ye humble your souls, A statute age-abiding.

Numbers 23:4And God came unto Balaam,—so he said unto him The seven altars, have I built in a row, and have caused to ascend, bullock and a ram on each altar.

Job 34:9For he hath said, It profiteth not a man, when, his good pleasure, is with God.

Proverbs 28:9He that turneth away his ear from hearing instruction, even his prayer, is an abomination.

Isaiah 47:6I had been provoked with my people, Had profaned mine inheritance, And given them into thy hand, …Thou shewedst them no compassion, Upon the elder, madest thou very heavy thy yoke.

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 58:2-3

A Charge against the People. ( b. c. 706.) 1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. When our Lord Jesus promised to send the Comforter he added, When he shall come he shall convince ( John xvi. 7, 8 ); for… Read the whole commentary →

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